Problem of evil and suffering essay
2ai) What may the problem of suffering signify to a religious believer? Examine one solution to this problem. (21 marks)
Suffering is caused by evil. The problem of suffering is a factor which can hold back one’s faith and beliefs in God as well as religion. God’s classical theism goes against the idea of evil and suffering existing, it almost seems irrational for the classical theism of God to exist alongside evil and suffering. Some scholars also believe that the classical theism of God cannot exist if evil and suffering is in the world, Aquinas states that “there is evil in the world; therefore God does not exist”, he is supported by other scholars such as David Hume. In this essay I am going to look at how the problems of suffering signify to a religious believer and provide one solution to this problem.
A solution which goes to explain how the possibility of how the classical theism of God as well as evil and suffering exists would be Augustine’s theodicy which suggests that the world created was good this is supported by biblical reference “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). This suggests that evil and suffering did not exist at the start, therefore the only conclusion that could be developed is the cause of evil and suffering comes from Adam and Eve. Augustine believes that the sin of Adam and Eve was passed onto humans (seminally present) and was the original sin. His theodicy also states that evil is a privation of good and therefore not created by God.
Augustine carries on and states that evil comes from free will beings who turned their back on God, which means that God granted us free will due to omnibenevolence and therefore he gave beings to make their own choices meaning that we are entitled to choose between right and wrong. Augustine considers the idea that Jesus was sent to redeem us from our sins, providing us a second chance as well as an opportunity to change ourselves and become one with God. Augustine’s
Suffering is caused by evil. The problem of suffering is a factor which can hold back one’s faith and beliefs in God as well as religion. God’s classical theism goes against the idea of evil and suffering existing, it almost seems irrational for the classical theism of God to exist alongside evil and suffering. Some scholars also believe that the classical theism of God cannot exist if evil and suffering is in the world, Aquinas states that “there is evil in the world; therefore God does not exist”, he is supported by other scholars such as David Hume. In this essay I am going to look at how the problems of suffering signify to a religious believer and provide one solution to this problem.
A solution which goes to explain how the possibility of how the classical theism of God as well as evil and suffering exists would be Augustine’s theodicy which suggests that the world created was good this is supported by biblical reference “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). This suggests that evil and suffering did not exist at the start, therefore the only conclusion that could be developed is the cause of evil and suffering comes from Adam and Eve. Augustine believes that the sin of Adam and Eve was passed onto humans (seminally present) and was the original sin. His theodicy also states that evil is a privation of good and therefore not created by God.
Augustine carries on and states that evil comes from free will beings who turned their back on God, which means that God granted us free will due to omnibenevolence and therefore he gave beings to make their own choices meaning that we are entitled to choose between right and wrong. Augustine considers the idea that Jesus was sent to redeem us from our sins, providing us a second chance as well as an opportunity to change ourselves and become one with God. Augustine’s